Transfer deadline day: Al-Ahli agree Toney deal; Sterling, Osimhen, Sancho news – live | Transfer window

A message from Chris:

“Any thoughts on Chelsea’s completely dodgy transfer of Washington to their sister club for a nice profit on someone who has played 26 minutes of football.”

My thoughts: it’s just Chelsea doing Chelsea things.

Steve Claridge has some thoughts on deadline day:

In response to Simon Webb’s point about running down contracts: It depends if the player is more interested in money or playing and it might also affect their value to other clubs in the future. All good seeing out X years of your contract but if you are only warming the bench for that time you are going to have zero game-time from which potential suitors can judge whether you are worth transferring or not.

I also like to think (perhaps naively) that most players want to play and that the money is just a (very) nice side effect of playing and being good at it.

I don’t think it’s a viable plan really.

Thank you, David. We’re straight back into it with some more news involving er … Chelsea again.

And with that, I’ll hand you back to Xaymaca Awoyungbo again.

A bit more from Newcastle boss Eddie Howe as the clock ticks and nothing happens. That nothing including England defender Marc Guehi still not signing from Crystal Palace.

Asked if the club had “failed” this summer, Howe replied: “I’m not going to sit here and say it’s been a brilliant transfer window for us. I think everyone will look at me and think, ‘I’m not sure he’s telling the truth there’. I do try as far as I can to tell the truth.

“But it’s not been through the want of trying from anybody’s perspective and I think for me to sit here and say that would be totally wrong as well. Everyone has tried really, really hard to improve the squad to make sure we’ve got a chance of success.”

Chelsea are strong contenders to generate the most transfer content on deadline today and here are a few of the latest lines.

• Sky Sports report that the Blues are edging closer to an agreement with Manchester United for the signing of Jadon Sancho. That could take the form of either a permanent or loan deal.

• Raheem Sterling has been mentioned as a contender to go the other way although, right now, the winger looks more likely to stay put or make the move across London to Arsenal.

• Fabrizio Romano reports that Wolves are set to sign teenager Saheed Olagunju from Chelsea for their Academy.

Caoimhin Kelleher has always done a great job for Liverpool in Cup competitions and when standing in for the slightly injury-prone Alisson.

But the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili in a £29m deal would appear to cast doubt over the Irishman’s long-term Anfield future even though the Georgian will stay with Spanish club Valencia on loan for 2024-25.

Arne Slot addressed the situation in today’s pre-Manchester United conference and was pressed if Mamardashvili’s signing would force Kelleher into a decision on his future. “Maybe, but we have to make decisions as well. It’s not only the player. If you work at a club like Liverpool you need competition and we need a lot of good players,” said Slot.

“Mamardashvili is someone for the long future of the club, and I’m really, really happy with the goalkeepers we have at the moment. Caoimh is one of them, like Vit [Jaros] and Ali. We’re in a good place when it comes to goalkeepers for now and for the long term.”

Nottingham Forest are understood to have made a bid for Kelleher but their offer of £25m-30m was short of Liverpool’s valuation. Forest keeper Matt Turner was also reported to have been offered in that deal but it looks as if the American stopper is now heading to Crystal Palace on loan after the Eagles allowed Sam Johnstone to join Wolves in a permanent deal.

Here’s Fabrizio Romano’s take on the two-into-one-won’t go Osimhen/Toney situation.

Thanks Xaymaca. Let’s start with some news from north of the border.

(From PA Media)

Scott Wright’s exit from Rangers was the first confirmed move of transfer deadline day in the Premiership. The former Aberdeen winger has joined Birmingham after 120 appearances and 12 goals for Rangers, including one in the 2022 Scottish Cup final. Wright has moved for an undisclosed fee reported to be around £300,000 and is reunited with Ben Davies, who moved to St Andrew’s on loan earlier in August.

They could be joined by Celtic midfielder Tomoki Iwata amid claims that Blues boss Chris Davies is going back to his former club for another signing from Scotland’s top flight. Celtic are expected to wrap up deals for Augsburg midfielder Arne Engels and Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty ahead of the 11pm deadline.

They have been linked with other midfield targets including Los Angeles FC’s Mateusz Bogusz, Dundee captain Luke McCowan, Switzerland Under-21 international Alvyn Sanches of Lausanne and Lyon’s Mahamadou Diawara. Celtic winger Mikey Johnston is set to finalise a permanent move to West Brom following a successful loan spell in the second half of last season.

Rangers have been linked with loan moves for Albania midfielder Nedim Bajrami, who plays for Italian side Sassuolo, and versatile Feyenoord defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo. The Ibrox club are still looking to offload players, with Todd Cantwell potentially moving to Blackburn.

Motherwell secured the Premiership’s first signing of the day by bringing Jack Vale back from Blackburn in a season-long loan.

That’s all from me for now. I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of David Tindall.

Away from transfer deadline day, a Women’s Super League fantasy football league is growing. Read more about it below.

A more general transfer window take from Simon Webb:

“One thing that always puzzles me is why more players don’t run their contracts down and leave on frees. If your services are worth £x million to a new club, do you want a big chunk of that to go as a transfer fee to your current club? Or do you want to take it all yourself? Seems an obvious inefficiency in the market.”

In the case of Raheem Sterling, running down his contract is an option, but at 29, not playing would be a waste.

More Chelsea related thoughts, this time from John Culley:

“As an Arsenal fan, Sterling is intriguing. Arteta has taken one underperformer for Chelsea, Havertz, and brought out the performances we all thought were there. He could do the same with Sterling, who could do a really useful job, given his pace and the finishing ability he showed when at Man City and for England. We need a bit of variety and depth across the front line. But he is nearly 30 and with whacking wage expectations, so we shouldn’t pay much money for him, if anything at all.”

Here’s a message from Jonathan Phillips:

“I agree with Charlie Robinson’s assessment that Chelsea’s treatment of certain players appears mean spirited. It’s surprising that the so-called “bomb squad” members haven’t been more active in seeking transfers. However, I wonder if some of these players, particularly those who thrived under Pochettino, might be adopting a wait-and-see approach. Could they be thinking, “Maresca might not last the season, so if we hang on for a few months, we could get a fresh start under a new manager?” This strategy could explain their apparent lack of urgency in finding new clubs.

Forest agree loan deal to sign Ward-Prowse

Jacob Steinberg

Fran Collins has an update from the Championship:

“Probably not a big issue when compared to Toney et al, but in the lower leagues my team, Birmingham City are going wild, apparently having offered £9m or £10m for Fulham’s Jay Stansfield. I can only hope they get promoted, because, if not, they could be screwed.”

Wolves sign Johnstone from Crystal Palace

Maupay leaves Everton for Marseille on loan

Charlie Robinson isn’t impressed with Chelsea’s treatment of Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Trevor Chalobah:

“I can’t help feeling uncomfortable with how they’re treating contracted employees, and how Chelsea seem determined to cut off their own nose to spite their face. Wanting these players out of the club is a perfectly fine and legitimate thing, but telling them they won’t get a single second of game time if they stay seems unnecessarily cruel, not to mention foolish. Say what you like about Raheem Sterling, but he can still do a fantastic job when needed for a top-half Premier League team which, let’s face it, is all Chelsea were last season anyway.”

Eddie Howe recently spoke to the press about Newcastle United’s activity this transfer window:

“With such a short time left, it is looking difficult. This window continues to be difficult for us. It’s a difficult situation with PSR & attracting the right players we think can make a difference. If we can’t do that, then doing nothing is perhaps the best option, as frustrating as that is.”

Ben isn’t a fan of either striker going to the Al-Ahli:

“So where do we reckon Toney, Osimhen and co end up at when they inevitably tire of the Saudi league in … let’s be generous and suggest 12 months? Inevitably their star will have faded, I reckon Osimhen does end up at Chelsea eventually but by that point they have bought two strikers who will need to be pushed aside to make room for the one they really want. Toney feels like he will end up with either a sideways move or a downwards one, so a Fulham or Everton (no offence to those fans!).”

Al-Alhi don’t have space for Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney according to Sky Sports. Securing deals for both strikers would see them exceed their transfer budget and violate their foreign player limit.

It’s been a frantic start to transfer deadline day. Read all about it here.

Read more about the Raheem Sterling conundrum below.

Here’s what Graeme thinks of the Toney deal:

“Given his age, ability and the fact he was being linked with some decent clubs (and Chelsea), there’s something quite depressing about Toney moving to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career. I can just about understand the last big payday move but this is definitely not that.”

It’s hard to see Toney making his way back into the England squad if he plays in the Saudi Pro League.

Arsenal consider Sterling move after being offered outcast

Jacob Steinberg

Jacob Steinberg has an update on the Raheem Sterling situation.

Darrien has a sense of humour:

“I might be late to the party on this one but I’ve just spotted Sean Dyche and the tough tackling Vinny Samways breakfasting together in a trendy Liverpool cafe. Rumours of a cool £2 million swoop doing the rounds in these parts…”

Al-Ahli agree deal to sign Ivan Toney for £40m

Sky Sports are reporting that Al-Ahli have also agreed a deal to sign Ivan Toney. It’s not looking good for Chelsea.

Arne Slot remained calm in today’s press conference. When asked about any last minute transfers he said: “Not expecting anything but if we see an opportunity, we could act.”

Somebody has sent a solution to Chelsea’s problem into my inbox:

“If Sky Italy are correct then Toney won’t be going further east than Fulham Broadway – but the Bees should swap him for Raheem and Chilwell ( with a small cash difference?), thereby gaining a fine striker and cover for injury prone (but wonderful) Rico Henry on the left? This agenting thing ain’t so hard…”

Read more about Neto’s move to Arsenal below:

Elsewhere in Liverpool, the Reds completed their first signing of the window. Read all about the Federico Chiesa deal below:

Here’s a prediction from Mark:

“I foresee a positive ending to the window for Everton, wiping away some of the current gloom around the club. It would be inexcusable not to use the remaining domestic loan so expect a London based player to travel to Liverpool for a late, late move. Have a great day and drink lots of Diet Coke!”

I think I’ll start with a coffee before opting for something stronger this evening.

Here’s a prediction from Andrew Coxon:

“Chelsea miss out on Osimhen, bid for Toney but can’t get the deal over the line and end up keeping Sterling, Chilwell and Chalobah due to a lack of takers at the prices they’re asking. Circus continues…”

I wouldn’t be surprised Andrew. I wouldn’t be surprised.

Sky Italy are reporting that Victor Osimhen is heading to Al-Alhi . It’s bad news for Chelsea who will have to look elsewhere for a striker. Ivan Toney?

Preamble